7. Melchizedek Priesthood

7.10 Additional Guidelines and Policies

7.10.1

Brethren Who Have Special Needs

Brethren who may have special needs include those who are ill, elderly, widowed, divorced, homebound, or bereaved and those who care for chronically ill family members. Members of their quorum or group should offer help.

Brethren who have these and other special challenges may come to their elders quorum president or high priests group leader with their concerns. These leaders should listen, offer love and encouragement, and maintain appropriate confidentiality. If they learn of possible concerns with worthiness or sensitive family matters, they refer the brethren to the bishop.

Offering Support at Times of Death

When a death occurs in the ward, the bishop may ask the high priests group leader or elders quorum president to contact the family to give comfort, assess needs, and offer assistance. He may request similar assistance from the Relief Society president. Melchizedek Priesthood leaders and Relief Society leaders coordinate these efforts.

The bishop may also ask Melchizedek Priesthood leaders to help make preparations for the funeral service. For additional information about funerals, see 18.6.

If possible, deceased members who were endowed should be buried in temple clothing. In some circumstances, the bishop may ask the high priests group leader or elders quorum president to assign an endowed man to dress or oversee the proper dressing of a deceased endowed man. These leaders ensure that the assignment is given to a person who will not find it objectionable. Guidelines for dressing deceased members are provided in Instructions for Clothing the Dead Who Have Received Their Endowments. Leaders may obtain these instructions from Church Distribution Services.

For additional instructions on dressing deceased members in temple clothing, the bishop may refer to Handbook 1, 3.4.9.

The elders quorum president, high priests group leader, home teachers, and other brethren continue to offer support, comfort, and assistance to the bereaved during the period of adjustment following the death.